Delhi HC Dismisses Lalu Yadav's Land-for-Jobs Petition

The Delhi High Court dismissed a petition by Rashtriya Janata Dal leader and former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav on Tuesday, rejecting his request to quash a Central Bureau of Investigation FIR and related chargesheets in the alleged land-for-jobs corruption case. The ruling, delivered by Justice Ravinder Dudeja, clears the way for the investigation and trial to proceed, describing the plea as devoid of merit.

The case stems from allegations that between 2004 and 2009, during Yadav's tenure as Union Railway Minister, appointments to Group D posts in the West Central Railway zone, headquartered in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, were made irregularly in exchange for land transfers to Yadav's family members and associates. The CBI registered the FIR on May 18, 2022, naming Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi, daughters Misa Bharti and Hema Yadav, unidentified public officials, and private individuals as accused. According to the agency, recruits transferred land parcels at significantly below-market rates, allowing Yadav's family to acquire over one lakh square feet for about 26 lakh rupees, far less than the prevailing circle rate of more than 4.39 crore rupees.